# Gas prices under Ronald Reagan, 1981–1989

Source page: https://govargus.com/presidents/reagan/gas-price

Under Ronald Reagan, the price of regular gasoline went from $1.26 in Dec 1980 to $0.93 in Dec 1988, down $0.33 (−26.1%). That is −$0.04/yr, against +$0.16/yr in the four years before. Ranked by yearly change, it is the fastest fall of the 8 completed terms since 1977.

Gasoline price (regular, per gallon): Average US retail price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline (CPI average price data). In dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation; mostly set by world oil prices. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, via FRED APU000074714 (https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/APU000074714), fetched Oct 19, 2026.

## Year by year

Highest reading during the term: $1.42 in Mar 1981. Lowest: $0.82 in Nov 1986.

| Period | Value | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dec 1980, before inauguration | $1.26 |  |
| Dec 1981 | $1.37 | +$0.11 |
| Dec 1982 | $1.26 | −$0.10 |
| Dec 1983 | $1.23 | −$0.03 |
| Dec 1984 | $1.19 | −$0.04 |
| Dec 1985 | $1.21 | +$0.01 |
| Dec 1986 | $0.82 | −$0.39 |
| Dec 1987 | $0.96 | +$0.14 |
| Dec 1988 | $0.93 | −$0.03 |

## Every term

Sorted by yearly change, fastest rise first. A term's first year mostly reflects the previous administration's policies, and Congress, the Federal Reserve and the world economy move these numbers too. Govargus describes; it does not score presidents.

| President | Term | During term | 4 years before |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Donald Trump (2nd term) | 2025–present | $3.15 → $4.48 (+$0.76/yr, through Sep 2026) | +$0.24/yr |
| Joe Biden | 2021–2025 | $2.17 → $3.15 (+$0.24/yr) | −$0.02/yr |
| Jimmy Carter | 1977–1981 | $0.63 → $1.26 (+$0.16/yr) | — |
| Barack Obama | 2009–2017 | $1.69 → $2.23 (+$0.07/yr) | −$0.05/yr |
| George H. W. Bush | 1989–1993 | $0.93 → $1.14 (+$0.05/yr) | −$0.07/yr |
| Bill Clinton | 1993–2001 | $1.14 → $1.49 (+$0.04/yr) | +$0.05/yr |
| George W. Bush | 2001–2009 | $1.49 → $1.69 (+$0.02/yr) | +$0.06/yr |
| Donald Trump (1st term) | 2017–2021 | $2.23 → $2.17 (−$0.02/yr) | −$0.28/yr |
| Ronald Reagan | 1981–1989 | $1.26 → $0.93 (−$0.04/yr) | +$0.16/yr |